Lately

Here's a random collection of what we've been up to lately.  

This is a terrible picture but this is always one of my favorite trees each Fall.  It's always so vibrant and beautiful.

I'd been promising Barrett we would go for a little hike at the GUTS trail.  Every day we'd planned to go it was raining.  So we finally had a beautiful Saturday morning to hike.  I made this fun scavenger hunt to kind of give us some fun things to look for.  Patrick had to work so we called my dad to see if he wanted to go with us.  (Thankfully he did because AveryAnn wanted to be carried the whole time)

Barrett found this giant leaf.  It was huge.  We still aren't sure which tree it fell from.

AveryAnn was not impressed with all the nature.

It was a perfect morning!  We can't wait to do it again.  We're also excited to try some other local trails.

That night Alabama was playing LSU.  I'd asked my dad if he was making muffalettas for the game.  Ask and ye shall receive.  So yummy!  We went to my parents to watch the game.  It was a good time.

Tuesday was election day!  I love getting to vote.  I always take the kids so they get to see how our great nation works.  They were very proud!

I mean if you don't take a picture with your sticker does your vote even count?

Barrett had to disguise Tom the turkey this week for school.  I let him have full control.  He hates to color so I felt like this was pretty good.  I wanted to add a cape but was quickly told Spiderman doesn't wear a cape.

I got an influencer Vox Box this week too.  I love free stuff!

This girl has had a runny nose/cough for a few days now.  She randomly ran a fever for about 4 hours and acted pitiful.  Then all of a sudden she got up and felt better and her fever was gone.  It was so weird.

I love this picture so much.  We were at a birthday party for one of his classmates.  This picture could not be more inaccurate of how his time at the party actually went.  He cried when we got there because he was nervous, then he cried (I mean wailed) because he didn't get to hit the pinata.  Then they made slime but it didn't really turn out and he was mad because we had to leave and he didn't get to play in the kids area.  But I still love this picture so much!

 After the birthday party we had to hurry home and I changed clothes and got the kids stuff together because they were going to stay with my parents so I could go to the UAB game with Brittany.  Long story short, my parents had to go keep my brothers kids because of a family emergency so I called Patrick's parents and they were able to keep the kids.  I'm so thankful for family that lives close and will literally drop everything to keep our kids.  I know not everyone is that lucky!  

I had this green sweatshirt so I threw it on with my gold leather feather earrings for the game because I have to wear team colors.  Not that it mattered because it was 35 degrees and I was wearing a coat and scarf and bundled up with blankets.   

Because of baseball season (and life), I hadn't gotten to hang out with Brittany in over a month.  This is not like us at all.  So I was so excited to get to hang out with her (and Seth).  Now, we talk to each other and video message each other more times than either of us care to admit every day.  She is a one of a kind friend and it was so good for my soul to get to hang out.  (Even if it was freezing!)  The game was so good.  UAB is having an amazing season, they ended up winning in over time! I love a good football game.

Patrick has to work every UAB football game.  I was probably overly excited to get to see him at work.  He doesn't have to do much during the game so he was able to come sit with us for a little while.   It was a really fun night! 

Barrett was out of school yesterday for Veteran's Day.  He really wanted to go to the office to see Steven and Millie so we went by for a visit.  It was pouring down rain and so cold all day.  The perfect day to stay in your pajamas all day long.  After we left the office they wanted to go look at the pets at the pet store so we did that.  They were so sweet and loved seeing all the animals.  

I'm finally getting back into working out and it feels really good.  I've just been in a funk lately.  I don't know if I've even talked about this but I got laid off from my job at the beginning of October.  I am now just running the sign business.  I've never wanted to be a business owner.  It's been a stressful 6 weeks trying to navigate my new situation.  There are a lot of perks to being your own boss.  The financial part is obviously the most stressful.  I'm not great with money.  Anyway, all that to say, I'm thankful for the 10 years I had at the job, I'm also thankful for the opportunity to own and run my own company even if it's not exactly what I saw myself doing.  I'm really learning what it means to trust in God and his provisions.  Which is not always easy, but I know it's worth it.  I never really felt like I got my identity from my job.  It wasn't a career, it was just a job.  But I've felt so out of place for the last 6 weeks.  I don't really know how to explain it.  I know it'll all work out and be fine, it's just hard to remember that every day.

Halloween 2018

The kids had been looking forward to Halloween for weeks.  Barrett and Jackson decided they wanted to be the Wild Kratts and AveryAnn was set on a ghost.  I'm not sure where she came up with that idea but she was adamant that's what she wanted to be.  I didn't have to do anything for Barrett's costume since he already had the vest.  Jessica got them matching long sleeve pullovers to wear because we thought it was going to be cold.  I'd planned for him to wear khaki pants but it ended up being pretty warm so we borrowed some khaki shorts from Jackson too.

They looked so cute!  Not many people knew who they were since its a show on PBS but they didn't care.  

I waited until the last minute and threw this together.  And by "I" I mean my mom and dad brought the tulle and my mom wrapped it around her and made this costume.  

We were supposed to be the Average Joes from Dodgeball last year but Jeremy had to work so we bailed. This year we decided to do it.  It was also a last minute effort but it was fun!  

AveryAnn only made it around our street but the boys and adults hit all the houses in our neighborhood.  We met up with one of their classmates and her family joined us for the last half.  Barrett got tired around the last 5-6 houses but we made it.  We came back to the house and ate chili and the kids handed out candy.  We didn't have as many trick or treaters this year, I think since it was on a Wednesday, a lot of the local churches had their festivals Halloween night.  We had so much fun!  I love this little tradition.  The kids are at such fun ages!  I know this time is fleeting so I'm soaking it all up!

Weekend Review

We had really nice, low key weekend.  After last weekend, I really didn't want to do a single thing for 3 straight days.  I knew I'd change my mind, but it was nice to not have any absolute obligations.  We got to do a lot of fun things because we wanted to not because we had to.  

Friday, Barrett was out of school for a teacher workday.  We had big plans to go to a friends small group at a park and then go play and have a picnic at another park and hike a fun trail.  But the weather didn't cooperate.  The small group got moved to Chick-Fil-A so we headed there Friday morning to start the day with some friends.  Since our picnic and hike got rained out we decided to invite a couple friends to come to our house and play.  I have finally reached a place in my life we're I can invite people over when my house is a disaster and I have nothing to eat or drink and not care.  I always give a warning, "hey, we have no food so bring your own snacks!".  Sometimes those impromptu playdates are the best.  

I didn't get a picture of the big boys but Dawson and AveryAnn played so well together. They are so sweet.  They cooked in the kitchen and then had a little picnic.

While AveryAnn was taking a nap, I got out the Osmo Genius that Barrett got for Christmas last year.  We tried to play with it not long after he got it and he wasn't really into it.  I got it out to see if he would play with it now that he really knows his letters and sounds.  He loved it!  He played all the games we got with it and just had the best afternoon.  He played for over an hour.  It really is so neat and I don't feel so bad about him playing on the iPad since he's playing educational games.

My mom took us to the high school game Friday night to watch Ava march in the band one last time.

The kids said they were freezing even though they refused to wear their coats. So they were snuggled up together under the blanket. 

We went over to see Ava before the game and I made her picture with the kids.  Time is so crazy, it seriously feels like last year that Ava was AveryAnn's size, and here she is finishing up her first football season in the marching band.  

The kids had the best time.  AveryAnn danced her little heart out.  She tried to mimic every move the dancers did in both halftime shows.  (I'd add the video if I knew how).  It was so funny and we had the best time watching her.

They wanted their picture made with the rocket.

We left at the beginning of the fourth quarter.  I don't normally support leaving early but it was raining and the kids were getting tired. Ok it was me, I was getting tired.  We were losing 53-7 and it was at that point I realized what it must feel like to play Alabama.

Saturday, I had big plans to clean around the house and just hangout until it was time to go to a pumpkin carving party we were invited to.  Well around 10:00, I was texting with my sister and she said she was at my parents and my little brother and his family were there too so we changed clothes real quick and headed there to hangout.  We had a wonderful day! I got to hold Brooks while he took a nap, the girls played and played together and Barrett and Uncle John played together too.

He is so happy!

Madelyn is so bossy and AveryAnn just does whatever she says.  It's really funny because she is so John. 

John and Barrett were trying to play SORRY! but the girls wanted to play too.

Granddaddy makes the best pony!

We left there around 2:30 to rest up for the pumpkin carving party.  It's been a good 15 years since I've carved a pumpkin.  I was a little nervous.

Barrett was so excited!  AveryAnn was just there for the snacks.  Uncle Patrick held her for most of the pumpkin carving portion of the evening.

Getting all the guts out.

He was so proud!

Truthfully, I was too!  I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I think it was pretty good!

Sunday was our last baseball game for the Fall season.  We hadn't won a game all season.  Spoiler alert: we didn't win Sunday either. Ha!  But the boys played really well together and had a great time.  Barrett has improved so much and we are so proud of him.

He got to play catcher during the last inning.  He was so excited. 

We had to get a team picture!  These boys are a hoot!

Coach always gives out 3 ring pops at the end of each practice and game to the kids that had a good practice or game.  Yesterday he gave out those three, then he gave one to each of the other players and said a few things about each one.  It was really sweet.  There was "the kid that gets the dirtiest", "the most catches", "the best hitter", "the best base runner", "most versatile".  Then,  Coach said, "this kid has the best attitude, was the best listener and just overall a great kid.  and that's Barrett".  Now, he didn't have the best attitude all the time.  He had a couple of really embarrassing melt downs.  But we couldn't be more proud of him.  A great listener and attitude is going to get him far in life.  Being a great hitter or catcher is amazing.  I hope he's those things too, but I'm proud that he's known for being a great kid over everything else.  We've had the most fun playing baseball.  I'm so happy to have my Sundays back but we'll miss seeing our friends at practice and games.  Barrett has already started asking when he get's to play again.  It's so fun watching him develop a love for the game.

We wrapped up the weekend with dinner at home and the World Series.

She got these glasses in a kids meal and I die every time I look at her.  You can attach different "frames" and she wore them all evening.  We laughed and laughed at her.  

It's Red Ribbon Week at our school this week!  Thankfully we don't have anything too crazy and already have something that fits the theme everyday. 

Excellence Lights the Crimson Flame: Homecoming 2018

For the 6th year in a row Barrett and I headed to T-town for the homecoming game and festivities.  It's a tradition I hope lives on forever.  Barrett is really starting to like watching football.  He asks questions and is really trying to understand the game.  My Dad and AveryAnn tagged along to enjoy all the festivities.

We celebrated Matthew and Nicholas's birthday.  

Barrett thought he was so big hanging out with the big boys.  They were so sweet to let him play with them!

We walked to the end of the street to watch the parade.  AveryAnn was very excited. 

I think this is the first year Barrett didn't cry.

They were so cute in their matching elephant outfits!

I love them both so much!  We enjoyed hanging out at the house for a while.  Dad took AveryAnn in the stroller to look at the decorations at the sorority houses and before long it was time for Barrett and me to head to the game.  He was so excited!  I'm glad we left when we did because I'd forgotten we had to go through metal detectors and the lines were backing up.  We got in and headed all the way to the top to our seats.  We caught the sunset and had to snap a picture.

I can't get over how old he looks in these pictures.  Kindergarten has really aged him and it makes me so sad.   He is so much fun but it just pains me to see the time passing so quickly.

He had to stop and look over the ledge on every level.  Then some guy made a comment about "if he had a daughter she'd be wearing boots too" and went on and on about how cute "she" was.  Yall, I've dressed Barrett in some pretty girly things, but I didn't think he looked like a girl at all.  I'm thinking maybe he was mistaking the shirt tail for a skirt? I've laughed and laughed about this.

We didn't stick around to hear Dixieland Delight.  I was sad we missed it but we needed to get back on the road before the traffic got to bad.  It was a wonderful day with my babies.